AFC Futsal Championship 2016: Iran 6-0 Jordan [VIDEO]

AFC – TASHKENT, Iran have sent out an ominous warning to their rivals at the AFC Futsal Championship after they thrashed Jordan 6-0 in their opening Group B match at the Universal Stadium on Wednesday.

First-half goals from Ashgar Hassanzadeh and Hossein Tayebi saw Team Melli take a 2-0 lead to the break before a second from Hassanzadeh, a brace from Mahdi Javid and a Ghodrat Bahadori strike rounded out the scoring.

In a match where Jordanian keeper Khaled Awad was the standout player, Iran dazzled with their constant movement off the ball and could easily have scored another half dozen such was their total dominance of both possession and chances.

“I had a sense that even though we scored several goals the players were a little tense at certain moments and while we know the first game is always the hardest I’m sure we will continue to get stronger as we progress,” said Iran coach Mohammad Nazemosharie.

“Things were a little difficult for us at times as Jordan clearly came with an approach of limiting the number of goals they conceded and we forced them to defend deeper and deeper to limit the damage so that was pleasing.”

Hassanzadeh opened the scoring in just the second minute after a jinking run from the left that saw him fire past Khaled Awad and Tayebi doubled the lead midway through the half from a similar angle as the floodgates threatened to open.

Only a series of outstanding saves from Awad prevented Iran from going further ahead as he denied Asia’s top-ranked nation time and time again.

Iran’s constant movement was causing Jordan no end of problems and only some further inspired goalkeeping from Awad kept them in the game.

In an incredible sequence early in the second half he twice denied Javid as well as Mohammad Taheri and Mohammad Keshavarz in the space of two minutes before eventually the Iranian pressure told.

Javid started the movement inside his own half, laying the ball off to Keshavarz on the right who cut back for Hassanzadeh to slide home his second in the 27th minute.

Four minutes later Iran extended their lead as Hassanzadeh’s free kick was met by Bahadori (pictured) on the right and he powered a shot past Awad.

A retreating Jordanian defence allowed time for Javid to slot home from the left with six minutes remaining with the same player making it 6-0 two minutes later after some sharp lead-up play from Hassanzadeh.

“I felt my players showed some good moments tonight but we knew this would be a tough challenge being our first time at this level and against a very strong opponent,” said Jordan coach Saleh Abu Jafer.

“Our goalkeeper was excellent but Iran have many ways to create chances so now we have to focus all our energies on winning the next match.”

Photo: AFC